Nasdaq Steps Up Pursuit of A Partner

By

Jacob Bunge,

Jenny Strasburg and

Ryan Dezember

Updated Feb. 11, 2013 8:20 p.m. ET

Nasdaq OMX Group Inc., long on the hunt for a partner, has ramped up its conversations about strategic options ranging from joint ventures to a sale, according to people familiar with the talks, as rival NYSE Euronext moves ahead with a merger that will form an even-bigger competitor.

The chatter between Nasdaq and potential partners heated up after NYSE Euronext announced in December it was joining forces with...